Contents

Design

Appearance

"Performage" monsters are based on Circus artists, such as jugglers, flame eaters and trapeze artists.

Etymology

"Performage", the English name of this archetype, is a portmanteau of "Perform" and "Mage". "Entermage", the Japanese name of this archetype, is a portmanteau of "Entertainment" and "Mage". Their name draws parallels with Yuya's "Performapal" monsters ("Entermate" in the OCG and Japanese anime), as with Reed Pepper's "Cookpal" monsters. "Entermage" even receives a near-identical abbreviation in the Japanese to "Entermate"– differentiated only by letter case ("Performage"/"Entermage" is "Em" while "Performapal"/"Entermate" is "EM")– as well as featuring cross-archetype support with "Performapal" through "Bubble Barrier".

Playing style

When the first three Effect Monsters were revealed, and the rarely seen or mentioned "Stilts Launcher" (With "Performage Flame Eater" being the only native card that could trigger it's second effect), they instantly became assets to "Chaos"-like and Rank 4 based Decks. Two prominent examples were "Shaddoll" and "Nekroz" before both becoming restricted soon after the release of this archetype and "Elder Entity Norden".

"Damage Juggler" and "Plushfire" can add "Performage" monsters from the Deck to the hand or Special Summon them from there, respectively.

As a general rule of thumb, "Trick Clown" should be the first to be Special Summoned or searched as it can repeat itself when used as any kind of Material for an Extra Deck Summon, and if possible should use its effect only when "Hat Tricker" is already on the field to negate the 1000 Life Point cost of "Trick Clown". It is difficult to make "Hat Tricker" reach 3300 ATK without multiple activations of "Plushfire", however.

"Mirror Conductor" is the Main Deck power play of the Performages. Its Pendulum Effect brings ATK and DEF to whichever is lowest and its monster effect switches the two, which is an asset as it can be used during either player's turn.

"Trapeze Magician" can let your monsters attack twice to try to achieve an OTK, removing your own Xyz Monsters that have no materials, or destroying an opponent's Monster in Main Phase 2.